Page 131 of Here With Me

Tripp follows, finally looking at his sister, and it’s not until I see it stand up do I realize it’s a snake.

“Noah, sit up!” I yell as I rush toward it.

I’m not close enough to get there before Donut sees it, and as soon as he does, he halts and rears up.

“Craig!” Tripp shouts, and I look over to see a shadow by the door.

Tripp takes off toward him as I try to grab Donut’s reins, but he’s spooked and takes off running with Noah still attached.

“My foot’s stuck!” Noah yells as she fights to lift herself.

My heart pounds as I put my arms up and use verbal commands to get Donut to stop. I wish Tripp had stayed and gotten rid of the snake so the horse would calm the hell down. Everything’s so chaotic, and I don’t know how to keep Donut from bucking.

“Relax your foot!” I tell her, hoping it’s enough for her to slide it out if he rears again.

Each time she attempts to reach for the pommel, he jumps, and she gets slammed back down.

I feel so goddamn helpless at how fast he’s moving. The arena’s too large to keep up with him.

When he rounds the next corner, I rush to get in his view and hold up my arms to hopefully get his attention to stop. He groans as his speed decreases, and I walk toward him, reaching for his reins.

Before I can grab them, Noah drops to the ground with a thud.

“Noah! Get up!”

Just as she attempts to move, the snake returns, and Donut loses his shit. He rears back, squealing, and when he goes down, his hooves land on Noah’s side with a crunch.

“Fuck!”

Noah screams as she curls into a ball. She tries talking to Donut, but he’s inconsolable.

I grab her wrists and drag her out of his stomping way until I can lift her. The snake is still harassing Donut, and there’s no way to get him to calm down without someone removing it. But my only priority is getting Noah out of here.

She groans as I rush us outside.

“I think my ankle’s fucked up,” she tells me with tears in her eyes.

“I’m more worried about your ribs, baby. Pretty sure I heard a crack.”

“Me too. They hurt like a motherfucker.” She winces in my arms as I try to open my truck door.

Knowing she probably can’t stand on her foot, I lay her down in the back seat.

“My head is throbbin’,” she says painfully.

“Noah, look at me.” I smack her hand a few times until she does. “Keep your eyes open, got it? I’m takin’ you to the ER.”

She blinks slowly as if she’s fighting the urge to close them.

“Eyes. Open. You can do it, baby.”

“Where y’all goin’?” Tripp asks from behind me.

I slam the door shut and resist the urge to sock him for leaving his sister behind.

“Donut got spooked and kicked the shit outta her.” I hop in the front seat and roll down the window. “You need to get that snake outta there, then put Donut back. He’s scared.”

“Oh shit. She got hurt?” He removes his cap and rubs through his wild hair.